Parents of Year 11s - the end is in sight

[228agreenend]

Hello everyone, new thread for the final push.

If got the standard 'good' regarding the maths and English exams today. However, with ds there is also a 'but'.

The maths But was that there were two questions he was unsure on. However, one he realised where he went wrong and was frantically trying to put down workings-out at the end.

The English But was that a text came up which he hadn't practiced as much, as he had been concentrating on newer texts. However, it was one of the easier texts so okay, and he feels confident on that paper.

I currently watching/listening to a Duran Duran concert I recorded on tv. Simon Le bon's voice doesn't quite sound 100% to me, but I am still enjoying the concert.

DS looked at the unofficially Maths mark scheme and seems to think he did OK.

Next week he has History, 2 x Chemistry and the final day (hallelujah) 2 x Physics and Geography and then that is it!

He is counting down the days until we go away now. He has also said he is going to sleep until 12pm everyday - this is the boy who after being offered an extra hour in bed yesterday morning decided he was getting up as he was bored.

for all - it's nearly over and we're more or less all still relatively sane!

it's nearly over and we're more or less all still relatively sane!

Yes! This is my fourth Summer in a row of exam stress. The previous three years have seen my other son sit GCSEs, AS and then A2 (he's had a break this year though as his degree course hasn't had an exam, just essays).

I don't think ds has been looking at mark schemes, or twitter responses etc. He has a chat straight after the exams, and has commented on other people's viewpoints, but he has never said that he has checked his marks.

I'm glad really, because sometimes I think,you can dwell on where you went wrong, rather then where you went right.

I got a smile today after asking about the maths, which I took as a better outcome than the usual stony face.

DS is only now just over half way through number wise, 12 down and another 11 to go. Having said that alot are now double, such as tomorrow, Biology 2&3 and then two German exams, finishes after the school bus goes. Can't wait until it's all over.

Good luck everyone tomorrow!

After tomorrow's 3 exams we'll be just over 3/4 of the way through. It will only be another 5 to go. The last leg so to speak. Got to get through tomorrow first.

it doesnt feel nearly over yet, but I guess after today it is just science and maths, which is a good thing in this house.

Still science x 6, history x 2 f. Maths x 2 and a graphics to go here.

Although the sciences are doubled up so not as bad as it sounds!

After biology 2 and 3 today we're down to single digits left, so that feels good!

Looking forward to hearing what weird and wonderful questions are on today's AQA biology paper!

Just two left in our house after today, chemistry and physics. Some of DS friends have finished or will finish today. Good luck to everyone.

sent off a very stressed dd. I think this is her worst day. She's dreading the biology after last time and hates the music paper.

takeway tonight to try and console her.

Dd was pretty gloomy too. She was reciting Biology answers in her sleep. At least she has Monday free so can relax a bit over the weekend.

Hope today's Biology papers aren't as off the wall as the first one.

I hope so too. As I badly burned the breakfast this morning at least we were able to raise the idea that perhaps there might be a question about carbonised bacon.

BadKitten, I have your daughter's opposite - DS strolled off to the same two which are his best subjects. He did actually do some biology revision last night which was surprising. I suggested he look at the music and he rolled his eyes at me so I shut up. At one point he was going to take Biology A level but somewhere along the way switched to English. I think it was the dissection that put him off, I pointed out that I cut up fish in the kitchen and then we eat it but apparently that's not the same. To me a mackerel is a mackerel whether you are cutting it up to draw it or eat it.

Funny how different they can be knitting!

DD has gone off this morning with a big black cloud over her head. 2 X biology then music, and she really cares about both. Thank goodness she only has 4 next week and it will all be over.

Oh dear, hope she is ok KItten, the biology might not be so bad after last time.

3 exams in a day is tough, we had that here on Tuesday.

Just Biology today, then 3 exams next week, 4 the week after, then done.

DD seems quite confident about biology because she has gone through the whole curriculum. There was only one bit left and she did it yesterday. She is much more concern about Chemistry next week as although it is her stronger science subject, they haven't been able to finish C3 Curriculum.

What has been interesting is how different teachers impacted on her learning. What has been great about revisions is that they've been able to sit with other science teachers and she said that some lessons she was struggling with became all clear with just one session with another teacher.

We've always know that good teachers make a significant difference, but I didn't realise the scale of the impact in relation to GCSEs. Very grateful that the school have put so much emphasis on these revisions lessons which they've had all the way through.

At the time, DS1 was unhappy that his science exams were so early (all done by 19 May) but now that his friends from other schools have their science exams still to do, he's quite glad his are over and done with.

"ery grateful that the school have put so much emphasis on these revisions lessons"

If only DD's school had

Waved my daughter cell off for biology today. See what I did there?

I took DS3 in this morning for Biology followed by Business Studies this afternoon. He only has two more next week, Chemistry on Weds and Physics on Friday.
DS2 has Chemistry AS this afternoon and then he and DS1 have Stats AS next Weds.
THEN YIPPEE!

This is DS's worst day. 2xbiology plus music. He cares about the music, he's not that bothered about biology (if he gets a C it won't kill him). Next week he has physics and history which he cares about A LOT and chemistry where he is on the fence - he'd like to get an A, getting a C wouldn't kill him though and if he gets a B then that's fine.

DD1 has her first A2 today - history. She wants an A but since she has a 2 E offer (which she has already made, realistically - she has grade 8 theory which is the equivalent of music A level, she has gen studies (which counts for her offer) already, and with the coursework and her excellent AS results she's sitting on more than an E in her 3 remaining subjects anyway) it doesn't actually have an impact on her future - but she wants an A so she was incredibly stressed when she left this morning. Incredibly.

DD had a bad stomach this morning, so I gave her some immodium and we set off late. The traffic lights at the roadworks weren't working so we got caught up in a long tailback. I ended up ringing the school (thank goodness for Bluetooth), and they were brilliant and said that DD could leave her bag in reception because she wouldn't have time to go to her locker.

Feeling wound up now.

Just chemistry and physics next week. Roll on next Friday.

dd has been on study leave since exams began. Most of the other girls have been boarding during the week.

Originally I thought this worked really well as she is very motivated to work at home but now I am worried that she missed revision sessions that would have been helpful. The school didn't say there would be revision sessions (they don't communicate with the parents at all ) but they may have told dd and she just ignored them

poor everyone this morning. That sounds very stressful Nickname. But she got there in time and that is the main thing. Hopefully once she opened the paper she will have forgotten about her woes.

Thank you Kitten. She was crying in the car this morning.

She had stayed up late to revise and felt confident that she knew her stuff. It is a subject she wants to take at A level and she was aiming for an A*. I hope this morning's shenanigans haven't thrown her too much.